Safety razor



y 1957 J. R. WERTHEIMER ETAL- 2,793,432

- SAFETY RAZOR Filed April 5, 1954 United States Patent 2,793,432 SAFETY RAzon Jack R. Wertheimer and Robert T. Sand, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 420,858

4 Claims. 01. 30-605) This invention relates to a safety razor of the type having a head adapted to receive a razor blade with means on the head adjustable for holding and releasing the blade.

A typical example of this type razor has clamps which swing to open and closed position for clamping and releasing the blade and a handle with a portion which is manually turned to operate the clamps. In razors now available it is necessary to turn the operating portion of the handle through several complete revolutions to open or close the clamps.

It is an object of this invention to provide an operating structure by which the clamps of such a razor can be moved to open and closed position by twisting the operating portion of the handle through approximately a half turn and at the same time to provide means for locking the clamps in closed position. One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings which may be briefly described as follows:

Fig. 1 is partly in elevation and partly in section showing a razor embodying the device of this invention with the razor in closed position.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but showing the razor in open position.

Fig. 3 is a view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Shown in Fig. 1 is a razor having a head 12 with a razor blade 14 secured thereon by clamps 16. A hollow handle 18 is rigidly fixed on the head and has at its lower end a helical track which may be in the form of a slot 20 as shown. The slot 20 has a return portion 22 at its lower end (Fig. 3).

An operating element 24 fits as a slidable sleeve around the lower end portion of the handle 18 and has an inwardly projecting pin 26 engaged in the slotted track 20. The operating element has an internal web 28 with a central aperture 30 through which a shaft 32 slidably projects. The shaft has an enlarged portion 34 and a head 36 lying on opposite sides of web 28. A coil spring 38 seats on head 36 and reacts against the lower face 40 of web 28. Washers 42 and 44 may be provided adjacent the upper and lower faces of the web as shown.

The upper end 46 of shaft 32 slidably extends through an opening in the stationary head 12, is linked to the clamps 16 through yoke bars 48, and is provided with positioning lugs 50 as shown. The clamps are operated by axial movement of shaft 32 and such movement is produced by turning the operating element 24. Helical track 20 extends through about 180 degrees and extends axially for substantially the same distance as the operative range of movement of shaft 32.

In use, assuming that the razor is in the open position of Fig. 2, a blade is placed on head 12 with openings in the blade engaging positioning lugs 50. The

pin 26 on the operating element is at the top of the heli-' cal track 20 as shown. To close the razor the operating element 24 is rotated counterclockwise, as the drawings are viewed, through about a half turn, causing the pin 2,793,432 Patented May 28, 1957 Ice and the operating element to follow the track downwardly. The shaft 32 is carried downwardly by the web 28 in the operating element, thereby closing the clamps 16 and forcing the closed clamps downwardly to secure the razor blade 14 tightly against the stationary head 12.

In this position the pin or follower 26 lies adjacent the low point 52 of track 20 as generally indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the operating element 24 is turnedfurther counterclockwise, pin 26 moves to low point 52 in the track and the operating element moves further downwardly. However, shaft 32 remains stationary since the clamps 16 are already in tight engagement with head 12. This independent movement of the operating element compresses coil spring 38 between web 28 and the head 36 on the shaft. Upon further counterclockwise movement of the operating element, pin 26 enters the upwardly turned or return portion 22 of the track and the operating element moves slightly upwardly independently of the shaft 32 under action of the coil spring. The terminal position of pin 26 in return portion 22 is illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 3.

The operating element 24 cannot be turned in a direction for loosening clamps 16 without forcing pin 26 over low point 52 in the track and momentarily compressing coil spring 38. This would require a conscious manual elfort. There is thus provided a locking feature preventing the grip on the razor blade from being acidentally loosened during use.

To remove the razor blade the operating element 24 is turned clockwise about a half turn and the follower or pin 26 first rides over low point 52 in the track and then rides upwardly in the track to the Fig. 2 position. The operating element is carried upwardly by the pin and web 28, acting through a washer 42 and enlargement 34, carries the shaft upwardly. The clamps 16 are elevated to disengage from the razor blade and then swing to open position. The razor blade may then be removed and a new one inserted and clamped into position as described.

We claim:

l. A safety razor comprising a head adapted to receive a razor blade, means shiftable to open and closed position on said head for holding and releasing such blade, a tubular handle member fixed on said head, a shaft within said handle member connected to said shiftable means, an operating member in the form of a hollow sleeve slidable around said handle member, an apertured web within said sleeve, said shaft projecting slidably through the aperture in said web, .a coil spring seating on said web and said shaft, helical track means on one of said members extending angularly substantially degrees and extending axially for substantially the operative range of said shiftable means, follower means on the other of said members engaging said track means, said track means having a return portion at one end for receiving said follower, said coil spring being operative to resist movement of said follower out of said return portion, whereby to lock said shiftable means in closed position.

2. A safety razor of the type defined in claim 1, wherein said track means comprises slotted means on said handle member and said follower comprises a projection on said operating member.

3. A safety razor comprising, a head adapted to receive a razor blade, means shiftable to open and closed position on said head for holding and releasing such blade, means fixed on said head forming a handle member, an element operatively connected to said shiftable means, an operating member rotatable and slidable on said hand-1e member, said operating member joining said element in a lost motion connection, spring means associated with said element and operating member, said i 4. A safety razor of "the type defined in claim 3 and spring means being operative to resist relative. movement characterizedin that, said track means comprises slotted therebetween, helical track means on one of said memmeans on said handle member and in that said follower bers extending angularly substantially 180 degrees and comprises a projection on said operating member. axially for slightly more than the operative range of 5 movement of said element; follower means on the other References Cited in the file of this P of said members engaging said track means, said track UNITED TAT PATENTS means having a return portion at one end for receiving said follower, said operating member being independently esti 1936 esti Nov. 24, 1936 movable beyond the range of movement of said element 10 2,109,554

for moving said follower into and out of said return portion against the action of said spring means, whereby to lock said shiftable means in closed position.

Smith et al. Mar. 1, 1938 

